Law Firm Prevails in Pursuit of Attorney Fees, But at What Cost?
IntroductionIn Storino, Ramello & Durkin v. Rackow, 45 N.E.3d 307 (Ill. App. 1 Dist. 2015), a law firm prevailed in seeking nearly $110,000 in attorney fees from its former clients under a contingency fee agreement that rewarded the firm based on how much was saved in special assessments the Village of Bensenville had sought to impose. Despite the law firm’s win against its former clients, the opportunity cost and resources spent litigating the interpretation and application of the contingency fee agreement likely rendered the firm’s victory bittersweet.